Waitrose said the return of The Great British Bake Off contributed to strong trading last week with sales up 8.2% year-on-year.

GENERAL MERCHANDISE

Waitrose benefits from the return of the Great British Bake Off

15 August 2014 | by The Retail Bulletin

Waitrose said the return of The Great British Bake Off contributed to strong trading last week with sales up 8.2% year-on-year.

The retailer saw a 25% surge in sales of glacé cherries while sales of piping bags rose by 14% as shoppers looked to replicate Mary Berry's cherry cake at home.

Similarly, demand for cake tins leapt by 22% while sales of sandwich tins were up 31%.

The retailer said the warm weather was also a driver of sales with barbecue meats seeing growth of 47% and demand for fish leaping by 28% as people continued to favour lighter meals. There was also a 24% uplift in sales of bottled water.

In addition, sales of outdoor living products rose by 20% and the retailer’s horticulture range saw an 18% uplift.

Waitrose also opened two new stores in the week. The retailer’s personnel director Helen Hyde said: “We had the pleasure of welcoming 237 Partners to our two new branches. Waitrose in Malmesbury and little Waitrose in Notting Hill opened last week and both exceeded our expectations for their first week of trading.”

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